Sicily and Southern Italy

Travel with Grand Tourist to Sicily and Southern Italy 

Small Group or Independent Travel

Southern Italy – Discover and explore a land of natural beauty, warm hospitality, fabulous food and wine. Visit the Italian region of Campania, with its exceptional scenery, amazing archaeological ruins. See Vesuvius dominating the Bay of Naples. Explore Basilicata and the ‘sassi’ city of Matera, European City of Culture, 2019. See the ‘trulli’ houses of Alberobello and the Baroque architecture of Lecce in Puglia.

Sicily – In Sicily we’ll see Ragusa Ibla, the Baroque villages of Sicily’s Val di Noto. Then to the north coast to experience magical Cefalu and vibrant Palermo. A full and truly invigorating journey.

Highlights: 

• Naples – Fun, vibrancy and a little bit of chaos – that’s Napoli
• We’ll visit the busy streets of Naples, sample genuine Neapolitan pizza.
• Stroll the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum, ancient cities buried by the massive volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.
• Explore the vast Greek temples of Paestum (a UNESCO world heritage site) where three spectacular Greek temples have stood since around 450 BC. One of my ‘must visit’ places in Italy. Essential viewing.
• Visit Matera, Basilicata – European City of Culture 2019
• Visit Alberobello famed for its conical houses, known as trulli
• Enjoy Lecce the Baroque jewel of Puglia.
• Experience Val di Noto, Montalbano country in Sicily and its Baroque towns
• See Sicily’s north coast & spectacular Cefalu with its Norman Cathedral & mosaics

There is no better way to experience Southern Italy – with thousands of years of history and a remote and rugged past. This is where government dissidents were sent in the 1920s and 30s. We’ll hear about the writer Carlo Levi exiled to Basilicata in the 1930s and his experiences which resulted in his famous book ‘Christ Stopped at Eboli’.

Did you know? There will be a visit to Salerno with its fascinating botanical gardens. In the 12th century the Medical School in Salerno was one of the finest in the Mediterranean. Kings and princes travelled from afar to receive medical attention from Salerno’s doctors.

If you are hungry – the best mozzarella in Italy comes from the Campania region just south of Naples. Enjoy some mozzarella at a local family farm. You’ve got to try at least one ice cream made with buffalo milk.

SUMMARY OF TRIP

What’s included:

• 12 days (11 nts) in clean and comfortable family-run hotels and guest houses
• Double room with private shower/wc
• Naples – 2 night
• Paestum – 1 nights
• Matera – 1 night
• Lecce (Puglia) – 2 nights
• Ragusa Ibla (Sicily)  – 2 nights
• Capo d’Orlando (Sicily) – 2 nights
• Palermo (Sicily) – 1 night
• Tour of ‘Old Naples’ including pizza supper, narrow streets & loads of character!
• Tour of Salerno, including one of Europe’s oldest medicinal, botanical gardens
• Visit the spectacular Greek temples at Paestum.
• Tour Pompeii or Herculaneum – ascend Vesuvius and walk up to the crater
• Visit a mozzarella cheese farm, meet the water buffalo and sample the cheese.
• Visit a vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting.
• Discover the south-east corner of Sicily and the Baroque villages of Val di Noto
• See Cefalu on Sicily’s north coast and the city of Palermo
• Transportation throughout in mini-coach with air-conditioning
• Breakfast included daily
• Family-style dining in trattorias and informal restaurants
• Janet Simmonds – Tour leader to accompany group & assist with all logistics

TESTIMONIALS – previous travellers have said…

“I participated in this tour in 2014 and loved every minute, we met so many Italian people and experienced an amazing and welcoming region of Italy. My favourite was Matera.’ DFD (Guildford,UK)
“The quality of the services that you offer, the personal attention to small details and the friendliness of your staff has made our trip really perfect…” CRN & RLN (Boston, Mass)

“amazing attention to detail…..”

“Now that I’ve travelled with Janet (several times) I can never go back to other tour companies, her attention to detail is exceptional. Everything is carefully planned and yet it is relaxed. If we meet someone particularly interesting there is always time to stay and chat” MLP (Mackinaw City, MI)